The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-24
TWO DUELS IN ONE DAY
Exploits Of Senator Harrison q Rddlebergsr
on tie Field Of Honor.
A GoodIy Portion or HIS Coat Tail Carried
OF by a Bullet, Which Satisfies
the AgRreived PartJ.


New YORK. August Ex-senator Har.
rison H. Riddleberger, who languished in |
the Woodstock, Va, jail few days ago, |
was a we'll known guest at the Continental |
Hotel last winter. He was pointed out as /
the man who had filled two engagements |
for duels on the same day. The double en- |
gagement came about in this way: In the |
gubernatorial canvass in 1881, Riddle |
berger, then a State Senator, took the |
ulster candidate. In his speeches he d. |
crossed from attacks on Democratic princi- |
pies to personal assaults on the Democratic |
leaders. Toward the end of the |
campaign he made savage attacks on Cou-
gresham George d. Wise and editor Beirne
of the Richmond State, in speech, deliv- |
cred at Norfolk. A few mornings later he
received challenges from both of these
gentlemen. With the promptitude for
which the Senator is famous, he answered
the challenges, accepting them, naming
the same day for both fights. He informed
Wise that he would meet him in q field
Just outside OF Richmond. To Beirne he
sent laconic note, something like this:
l will be ready for you at 10 a: m If Wise
leaves me on my feet, On the morning
appointed the hostile forces met.
Everyone knew that Riddleberger could
not hit big oak tree at ten peces. On the
other hand, Wise is very near sighted, aud
cannot distinguish more than the outline
distance. A half hours fusiiade was there
fore expected before any stray bullet
touched either of the antagonists. The
duelists took their places. The word was
given. Two reports were heard at inter
walls of five or six seconds. When the
smoke cleared away the seconds rushed up
to ascertain the condition of their prin-
cipals. No damage was found. Some Curl
20 haf
ton the bullets had taken, for while the
word was being given to fire it was noticed
that Wise was taking deadly aim at little
fir tree about six feet to the right of his
enemy. while Riddleberger seemed intent
on bring down q bunch of cherries half
dozen feet above the head of the congress
man. After the first exchange of comph-
ments both principals gave yelled intima-
tons that they were of that philosophic
order of men who know when they have
got enough; but the seconds, failing to
comprehend the intimation, or desiring to
see q little more fun, decided that 1t would
take at lesst one more fire to vindicate the
honor OF all concerned. So the principals
sadly resumed their places and prepared for
another onslaught. This time Wise, who
had received some hints from his second,
did not aim at the fir tree. He turned his
arm more to the left. at first he seemed
unable to decide between the fgue of Rid
dlebeIger and the knarled roots of an oab
tree couple of feet to the left. Final ~
appeared to compromise matters ,.' nS
mind and aimed directly betw" ~ us
ing particular. AS the eIn ss nvsn,
it is said thvt fly s,,wbt h We" on K kISsS
hand and tickled it nlgateo on WISE 5
the pistol and lc .. % IN uIn sna' Nc !e'S 1ru
that fly is 'ss ms 1eadly AIM 10
s MiTe ever made, for after the
r.an5 4" was found that while the
RED touched his bullet had neatly car
| |. OFF goodly portion of Riddleberger's
! III coat tail. When this fatility was dis
covered it was agreed that the shattered
bit OF tail was amply sufficient to satisfy
the honor OF the sggrieved party. All
parties left the field satisfied with them.
selves and each other.
Ridd'eberger and his friends adjourned
to an inn near by and INDUCED in refresh
ments while awaiting the arrival of the
second bloodthirsty enemy. At 30
Beirne was seen coming over the hill with
his seconds and physician. The Riddle
berger army drew up outside OF
the door to receive them with the polite
formality required by the code. The
whole party then went over to the
dueIling field. The seconds looked more
serious this time. They felt that blood
would surely irrigate the field before
| lunch, tor Beirpe was known as crack
shot and was very mad at Riddleberger.
The Senator showed no fear, howevtr. He
smoked calmly while the preliminaries
were being arranged. just as the princi-
pals were about to be ordered to their
places the clouds, which had been threat
| en1Dg Tor some time to get ahead CT the
blood in wetting the field, began general
| sprinkliDg. The hostile forces retired be-
| meath big tree to await the end of the
shower. They had long wait, for soon it
began to pour. The lightning flashed,
the thunder roared, and all began
inquiriDg anxiously about the kind
of tree that the thunderbolts loved. One
OF the physicians, who was church dea-
con, thought this good time to get in
some work. He began sort of a sermon,
declaring that heaven had interfered to
| prevent the accomplishment of the blood
thirsty desires of the men, and begged the
wouldbe duelists to give up their long
| ings for each others blood. The sermon
| might have had effect, but for fear of the
ridicule which would await the principals
on their return to the city without a
single exchange OF shots. After the rain
the party came out on the field. When it
came to getting the pistols ready for their
deadly work it was found that the amuni-
ton was thoroughly soaked, Great
regret was expressed by the princi-
| pals, but eyewitness testify that invol.
untary signs of relief were mingled with
the regrets. What was to be done? No
ammunition could be got at any place
nearer than Richmond, and if they re-
turned to the city they might be arrested.
One of the seconds, who evidently con-
| sidered that he had been cheated out of a
| good thing, protested violently against re-
turning without dead body, and sug-
| gested that the principals should hunt up
| a couple of knives and take hack at each
| other. This suggestion met with general
| disapproval. Finally it was decided to
meet again on the morrow and all started
for town. But the duel that was looked
for never came, for both principles were
next day arrested and placed under bonds
to keep the peace.